July 11, 2008
Recommended Books About Down Syndrome
For Parents
Compiled by Dr. Len Leshin
Note: Clicking on the title will take you to the Amazon.com website where you can order the book.
 
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Babies With Down Syndrome: A New Parent's Guide (2008 Edition)
ed. by Susan Skallerup. Woodbine House, 2008 "Revised for the first time in 13 years and featuring four new chapter authors, it covers information that will be most helpful for families with children from birth to age five." |
 
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A Parent's Guide to Down Syndrome : Toward a Brighter Future, Revised Edition by S.M. Pueschel. Paul Brookes Pub. Co., 2001 "This easy-to-read resource shows families what they can dare to dream for as their child with DS grows up. It mingles the expert guidance of parents who have shared your experiences, with the respected work of one of the most noted authorities in the field of DS. You'll learn what to expect and what to consider during each stage of development, and -- most importantly -- how to offer empowering guidance that will give your child the chance to pursue a full, independent life." |
 
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Down Syndrome: the Facts by Mark Selikowitz. Oxford Univ Press, 1997 This book "covers the whole life span from infancy to adulthood and deals with the developmental, educational, and social-sexual needs of individuals with Down syndrome as well as their medical needs....a concise, readable discussion of Down syndrome and its impact on the child and family in a positive, upbeat manner." |
 
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Medical & Surgical Care for Children With Down Syndrome: A Guide for Parents (Topics in Down Syndrome) ed. by D.C. Van Dyke, and P. Mattheis. Woodbine House, 1995 This book "provides detailed, easy-to-understand information on a wide range of medical conditions and treatments, including heart disease, recurrent infections, thyroid problems, eye problems, skin conditions, ear/nose/throat problems, gastrointestinal problems, orthopedic problems, leukemia, facial and dental concerns, reproductive issues and neurologic problems," plus much more. |
 
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Gifts: Mothers Reflect on How Children with Down Syndrome Enrich Their Lives ed. by Kathryn L. Soper. Woodbine HOuse, 2007 "In this candid and poignant collection of personal stories, sixty-three mothers describe the gifts of respect, strength, delight, perspective, and love, which their child with Down syndrome has brought into their lives. The contributors to this collection have diverse personalities and perspectives, and draw from a wide spectrum of ethnicity, world views, and religious beliefs." |
 
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Adolescents With Down Syndrome: Toward a More Fulfilling Life by S.M. Pueschel and M. Sustrova. Paul Brookes, 1997 "This book takes a holistic approach to the person with DS. It provides well-informed perspective by examining diverse life issues -- biomedical, psychological, social, sexual, behavioral, educational, vocational, recreational and legal." |
 
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Adults With Down Syndrome edited by S. M. Pueschel. Paul Brookes, 2006. "Siegfried Pueschel blends contributions from respected experts with first-person essays by adults with Down syndrome themselves. Together, they answer readers' critical questions about what adults experience and how to support their goals, dreams, choices, and overall well-being." |
 
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Down Syndrome: Visions for the 21st Century ed. by WI Cohen, L Nadel, M Madnick. Wiley-Liss, 2002. Based on the 1999 National Down Syndrome Society conference, this book contains chapters on the newest information on genetics, health care, advocacy skills for the parent, teaching communication and reading, and a series of essays by several young adults with DS. |
 
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The Down Syndrome Nutrition Handbook: A Guide to Promoting Healthy Lifestyles by Joan E. Guthrie Medlen. Woodbine House, 2002. This book, written by a mother of a child with Down syndrome and a registered dietitian, "looks at all aspects of nutrition and healthy living for children with Down syndrome, from birth through young adulthood." |
 
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Early Communication Skills for Children With Down Syndrome: A Guide for Parents and Professionals by Libby Kumin. Woodbine House, 2003 This volume replaces Libby Kumin' 1994 work on communication skills in young children with Down syndrome. Updated and expanded, this book "focuses on speech and language development from birth through the stage of making 3-word phrases." |
 
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Classroom Language Skills for Children With Down Syndrome: A Guide for Parents and Teachers (Topics in Down Syndrome) by Libby Kumin. Woodbine House, 2001 "This guide offers parents an in-depth overview of their child's language skills in school, while providing teachers and SLPs with useful ideas and adaptations that will help them meet the communication needs of their students with Down syndrome." |
 
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Teaching Reading to Children With Down Syndrome: A Guide for Parents and Teachers (Topics in Down Syndrome) by Patricia Oelwein. Woodbine House, 1995 This step-by-step guide presents a reading program for children with DS that can be used to effectively meet a child's unique learning needs and style, and is suitable for both home and school use. |
 
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Teaching Math to People With Down Syndrome and Other Hands-On Learners: Basic Survival Skills by DeAnna Horstmeier. Woodbine House, 2004 "The author, an experienced educator, was inspired to write TEACHING MATH to meet the needs of hands-on learners after observing the difficulty her adult son with Down syndrome and his peers had in applying math skills to everyday life." |
 
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Gross Motor Skills in Children With Down Syndrome: A Guide for Parents and Professionals (Topics in Down Syndrome) by Patricia C. Winders. Woodbine House, 1997 "This book provides parents and professionals with essential information about motor development including the impact of temperament and the effect of physical and medical conditions associated with DS. Over 100 activities make it easy to practice motor skills with infants and children through age 6." |
 
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Fine Motor Skills for Children With Down Syndrome: A Guide for Parents And Professionals (Topics in Down Syndrome) by Maryanne Bruni. Woodbine House, 2006 "Now available in an expanded new edition. Written by an occupational therapist who has worked extensively with children with Down syndrome, and is also the mother a teenager with Down syndrome, this book explains the best practices and procedures for helping children master daily living skills for home, school, and an independent future." |
 
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Mental Wellness in Adults with Down Syndrome: A Guide to Emotional and Behavioral Strengths and Challenges by Dennis McGuire, Ph.D. & Brian Chicoine, M.D. Woodbine House, 2006. " The founding directors of the Adult Down Syndrome center of Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, Illinois--the first and premier facility of its type in North America--share nearly 30 years of combined experience treating more than 3,000 adolescents and adults with Down syndrome aged 12 to 83." |
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Teaching Children with Down Syndrome about Their Bodies, Boundaries, and Sexuality by Terri Couwenhoven. Woodbine House, 2007. The author is an AASECT-certified sexuality educator and the mother of a child with Down syndrome. She specializes in working with people with intellectual disabilities, and "blends factual information and practical ideas for teaching children with Down syndrome about their bodies, puberty, and sexuality. This book gives parents the confidence to speak comfortably about these sometimes difficult subjects." |
 
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The New Language of Toys: Teaching Communication Skills to Children With Special Needs, a Guide for Parents and Teachers by Sue, Ph.D. Schwartz. Woodbine House, 2004. "The new edition presents sixty-five new toys and accompanying toy dialogs to use with children with a wide range of special needs from birth through age six. These sample toy dialogs show parents how to play purposefully with their child--using store-bought and homemade toys--to provide language learning opportunities and stimulate language development." |
 
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The Child With Special Needs: Encouraging Intellectual and Emotional Growth (Merloyd Lawrence Book) by S. Greenspan and S. Weider. Perseus Press, 1998 "...a complete, step-by-step approach for parents, educators, and others who work with developmental problems. Covering all kinds of disabilities - including autism, language and speech problems, Down syndrome, and ADD - the authors offer a new understanding of the nature of these challenges and also specific ways of helping children extend their intellectual and emotional potential." |